Candy Crush Union Gathers Momentum After Private Doctor Ouster

In early 2024, a significant change in employee benefits at Activision Blizzard's Stockholm office, implemented by new owner Microsoft, unexpectedly ignited a unionization drive. The removal of a highly valued on-site doctor, coupled with short notice, prompted swift action.

IGN reports that over a hundred employees at King's Stockholm studio subsequently formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. This group, now recognized by management, aims to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to safeguard working conditions, policies, and benefits.

Swedish unionization differs from the U.S. model. Workers can join unions regardless of company organization, resulting in approximately 70% union membership nationwide. Unions negotiate sector-wide conditions, while individual membership provides additional benefits. However, forming a union club and securing a CBA allows for workplace-specific negotiations, granting additional benefits and influence within company decision-making. This mirrors a growing trend in the Swedish games industry, with companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios already having unionized workforces.

Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King and a union board member, explains that pre-2024 union activity was minimal. The catalyst for change was the abrupt cancellation of the company doctor benefit, a highly valued perk, providing a stark example of the lack of employee bargaining power without a CBA. The ensuing employee outcry led to a surge in union membership, rapidly increasing from a handful to over 200.

Timo Rybak, a Unionen Stockholm organizer, highlights the value of employee input in company decisions, emphasizing the unique perspective of those directly involved in daily operations. The union also provides valuable education on employee rights, particularly beneficial for the diverse international workforce at King.

For Falck and her colleagues, the union's formation, born from a negative experience, is fundamentally about preserving the positive aspects of their workplace culture and benefits. It represents a proactive effort to safeguard their working environment within the evolving landscape of the company under new ownership.